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Tsunami watch in effect

A tsunami watch is in effect this morning for the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii and the Alaska, BC and Washington coasts.

Information from the BC provincial emergency preparedness system indicates that it's not known if the tsunami will reach the west coast of North America, but a wave was generated by an earthquake north of Japan at 3:14 am.

Based on preliminary reports from Japan and Alaska at 6:10 am, it's now expected that any tsunami wave that might reach coastal British Columbia will be very small.

No impacts are expected from any tsunami wave that might reach coastal BC, according to the provincial emergency program just after 6:00 am this morning

Areas in Alaska have been issued a tsunami warning, while from the Queen Charlottes/Haida Gwaii to Washington, a tsunami watch is in effect.

If there is a wave, it is expected to arrive at Langara Island at 9:50 am and at Tofino on Vancouver Island at 11:17 am.

Residents in low-lying coastal areas of the Charlottes should be alert to instructions from local emergency officials. RCMP on the islands are aware of the potential problem and on duty.

The 8.1 magnitude earthquake in Japan caused a tsunami less than a metre high in northern Japan.

Tsunamis are a series of waves which could be dangerous for several hours after the arrival of a first wave.

Note-this is a 'tsunami watch' only, not a 'tsunami warning'.

Please check other news sites such as CBC.ca and CNN for more information as well as pep.bc.ca